collins



No. 68,005. 'Patented Oct. 25, I898.

. L. DPCOLLINS.

DAMPER REGULATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS D. COLLINS, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW YORK CENTRALIRON WORKS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DAMPER-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 613,005, dated Oc 25,1898.

Application filed April 22, 1898. Serial No- 678,448. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS D. COLLINS, residing at Geneva, in the countyof Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Damper-Regulators, of which the following is aspecification.

My in'vention relates generally to damperregulators of a type especiallyadapted for use in connection with low-pressure steamheaters.

The object of my invention is to protect the diaphragm ordinarilyemployed in devices of this class against unnecessary wear or fracture,as well as high temperatures and corn sequent vulcanization, and,furthermore, to provide a plunger operating under the influence of thediaphragm in a well-known manher and so arranged as to automaticallyclose the casing to prevent leakage or the escape of steam or water inthe event of accidental rupture of the diaphragm.

The novelty of the invention consists, first, in an adjustable stop forlimiting the downward movement of the plunger, and thereby entirelyrelieving the diaphragm of all weight, and, second, in interposingpacking-rin gs between the casing and the head and annular stop of theplunger, so that the latter will become self-packing in forming asteam-tight joint when raised or lowered, and, finally, the inventionembraces various minor features, to be hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of the invention isillustrated by a view in central vertical section.

Referring thereto,1 represents a diaphragmoasing, the lower portion ofwhich is approximately bottle-shaped and provided with an inlet-pipe 2,entered near the bottom thereof, and a drain-cock 3. The upper port-ionor cover is concaved to provide a hollow chamber above the diaphragm 4,which latter is interposed and clamped between the upper and lowermembers of the casing by a series of bolts which serve to secure themembers together.

5 represents a plunger adapted for vertical movement in a centraltubular projection of the upper portion of the casing. At its lower endthe plunger is flanged, as at 6, to provide an enlarged bearing-surfaceagainst which the diaphragm acts. Encircling the plunger and upon theupper side of this flange a packin g-ring 7 preferably of rubber, isplaced, its purpose being to form a steam-tight joint at the centralopening of the cover when the plunger is elevated. At its upper end theplunger is grooved for the reception of an antifriction-roller 8, uponwhich a main lever 9 rests, it being fulcrumed at 10 upon a pivotpincarried by a vertical stud or standard of the cover.

. 11 represents an adjustable stop by means of which the downwardmovement of the plunger is limited as may be desired, and consists of aring encircling the plunger and held thereon by a set-screw.

12 represents a packing-ring encircling the plunger and interposedbetween the annular stop and the upper end of the tubular projection,the same being adapted to form a steam-tight joint at the latter pointwhen the plunger is lowered.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the plunger is elevatedthe lower packing will come into contact with a faced inner surface ofthe cover and make a tight joint, thereby preventing the escape of steamor water should the diaphragm become ruptured. Further, a similar jointwill be made by the upper packing-ring when the plunger is lowered owingto the weight of the lever, which is supported indirectly by theplunger, as above described.

In operation the diaphragm will at all times be in contact with water ata moderate temperatnre, which fills the lower chamber, and, as designed,the cubic capacity of the inlettube will slightly exceed that of theupper chamber. Therefore to fully distend the go diaphragm would notexhaust the-tube, and by reason of this fact steam is prevented fromentering in quantity sufficient to raise the temperature and vulcanizethe rubber, as will be obvious.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In adamper-regulator, the combination with a diaphragm and its casing, of aplunger operating under the influence of the dia- 10o with a diaphragmand its casing, of a plunger.

operating under the influence of the diaphragm and movable in bearingsof the easing, packing-rings arranged in a manner to be engaged by theplunger at the extremities v of its movement, and an adjustable stop normally supporting the plunger and limiting itsddownward stroke for thepurpose specifie 4. In a damper-regulator, the combination with adiaphragm and its casing, of a plunger movable in bearings of the casingand provided with a lower, integral, terminal flange and an upperadjustable flange, the latter serving as a stop in limiting the downwardstroke of the plunger and packing-rings arranged to be compressedbetween said flanges and the casing at the extremities of the movementof the plunger, for the purpose specified.

5. A damper-regulator,comprising a casing consisting of a lowerbottle-shaped member having requisite inlet and drainage connections,and an upper interiorly-concaved member serving as a cover therefor, aninterposed yielding diaphragm sustained normally by the body of liquidcontained in the lower member, and a self-packing plunger operatingunder the influence of the diaphragm, and an adjustable stop supportingsaid plunger at the limit of its downward stroke, for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS D. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

JNO. W. MTELLEN, CHARLES E. WILLIAMs.

